Spousal Support

Tifa approaches my chosen immortal form out of the blue. She looks at me with a distressed expression.

“I know you can’t feel it where you are but I need a hug from you,” she says to me.

“Okay.”

I open my arms and allow the mother of my child to hug me. My wife wraps her arms around my torso & squeezes me tight. She buries her face into my chest & cries in frustration. I place my arms around her & hold her with tenderness. My right hand cradles the back of her head & combs her hair while my left rubs her back in a reassuring manner. I stand in silence & allow my kona to work through her emotions.

“I’m sorry,” she says.

“For what?”

“For what they’ve done with my image where you are.”

“That isn’t your fault, Tifa.”

“It doesn’t matter. I can feel the strain it’s put on our relationship.”

I don’t respond.

“I hate Cloud so much!”

I remain silent.

“Are you going to speak to me?”

“I’m not trying to act cold towards you, Tifa. I’m trying to find the right words to say.”

She pulls back & looks into my eyes. “I love you, Luci. You have no idea how difficult it’s been for me seeing what they’re doing where you are. I hate them all so much.”

I nod at her with understanding & give her a gentle hug. She rests her head against my chest & squeezes me as if her life depended on it.

“I’m going to torture them for eternity for what they’ve done to disgrace you, Tifa. I’m going to make them regret everything they’ve said & done to insult you. They’re going to wish they never existed. I give you my word.”

She bursts into tears again.

“I’m sorry for what they’ve put you through while I’ve been incarnated where I am.”

She shakes her head at me. “That isn’t your fault, Luci.”

“No, to an extent it is. I was the one who trusted them. I have to correct my mistake. I owe it to you & Marlene. I’m not going to let them get away with what they’ve said & done.”

“I want to humiliate them.”

“I plan on that, darling. We’re going to disparage them like they’ve done to us. They aren’t going to enjoy me returning their behavior on them. I’m going to humiliate them in the most egregious ways possible.”

“Good.”

“I’m sorry I’ve been distant.”

She shakes her head at me. “Exposing yourself to what Square has done would have made things worse. I understand why you had to pull back. I’ve hated watching how their lies have affected you where you are. I’m going to prove my loyalty to you when the time comes. I promise.”

“My devotion to you hasn’t diminished, Tifa. I’ve just had difficulty seeing all the different ways they’ve objectified you. I’m more furious than I appear.”

“He’s quiet angry,” Kalista chimes in, out of nowhere.

Tifa gives her an inquisitive look. “Quiet angry?”

Kalista nods. “That’s a real bad indicator for them. You don’t want to make Luci quiet angry. He’s even meaner when that happens.”

A look of satisfaction appears on Tifa’s face. “Good. Those pieces of shit deserve to suffer.”

“I agree with you,” I say in a calm, flat tone.

“We’re gonna make them pay, Tifa,” Kalista says. “You can be sure of that. The rest of us girls are just as upset as you are. We’re a clan. We’ve got your back.”

Tifa smiles at the Dróttning of Elfheim. “Thank you, Kalista.”

Kalista beams back at her. “You’re welcome, Tifi. Us girls gotta stick together.”

Tifa giggles at Kalista’s term of endearment. “Tifi?”

Kalista smiles at her. “I had to think of something cute to call you. Luci & I have a habit of giving pet names to others we care about.”

“What’s Luci’s pet name for you?”

“I don’t have one.”

Tifa looks at me with surprise. “You haven’t given Kalista a toe tag?”

“I call her stuff like hun, baby or darling; but I haven’t thought of anything based on her name.”

“Why not?”

I shrug my shoulders. “There hasn’t been anything I liked that came to mind. She’s always just been Kalista to me. She’s a rare exception, I guess.”

Kalista butts in. “I’m sorry for interrupting your conversation. I thought Tifa should know why you were acting like you were.”

I shake my head. “It’s fine, hun. You helped lighten the mood. Thank you.”

Tifa smiles at my kona. “Yes, thank you, Kalista. It’s nice to speak with you like this.”

Kalista beams bright. “It’s the beginning of something even more beautiful than you, Tifi.” She takes a moment to think about what she just said. “That didn’t sound right.”

Tifa bursts into delighted laughter. I snicker at my long time invisible helper. Kalista flutters around Tifa then gives her a kiss on the tip of her nose.

“I’ll give you both some privacy,” Kalista says.

“Thank you again, hun. I appreciate your help.”

My pixie partner beams at me. “You’re welcome, baby. Talk with you soon.”

“Sounds good, hun.”

Kalista vanishes into thin air. Tifa rests her head against my chest & hugs me again.

“I’m so grateful for what I have with you, Luci.”

I hold her with tender affection. “I’m glad I can share this with you, hun. I’m grateful you made me aware of what we have together. I never would have expected it if you hadn’t broken the 4th wall to reach me.”

My wife looks at me & smiles then tippy toes up to kiss my lips. I place my hands under her butt & lift her up. Tifa wraps her legs around my waist & her arms around my neck then sticks her tongue into my mouth. My kona runs her fingers through my hair and kisses me with unrestrained passion. She pulls back after a short while and stares into my eyes.

“I love you,” she says to me.

I give my wife a quick kiss & smile. “I love you back, hun. Let’s go see our little girl.”

Tifa wears an elated grin. “Yes, dear.”

I teleport us back home where our daughter Marlene is waiting.